Probable cause
The pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing.
NTSB analysis
The pilot stated that it was his first landing at the accident airport. While in the traffic pattern and on the approach for landing, he stated that he became preoccupied with the terrain surrounding the airport and landed at a higher than normal airspeed. Upon touchdown, the airplane bounced. On the second touchdown, the airplane's nose landing gear contacted the runway, the airplane shifted to the right, and the left propeller impacted the runway. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to both wings, and no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane were identified.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA10CA513 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 23, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Northampton, Massachusetts
- Nearest airport
- Northampton Airport (7B2)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA34
- N-number
- N56196
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.